Synopsys, Realtek and UMC make single-chip UHD smart TV SoC

Ultra high definition (UHD) TVs are likely to become more common in the aftermath of an announcement from Synopsys, which provides software and services to accelerate innovation in chips and electronic systems, Realtek Semiconductor, a network and multimedia IC provider, and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), a semiconductor foundry.

The three have announced that Realtek's RTD2995 UHD smart TV controller system-on-a-chip (SoC) has been successfully implemented in UMC's 40LP, the foundry's volume production, low-power 40-nanometer (nm) process technology. 

The new SoC is the industry's first single-chip implementation with support for the "4K2K" UHD video format. Realtek used Synopsys' DesignWare embedded memories and logic libraries, Galaxy implementation platform and professional services to help them meet their aggressive performance, power and schedule goals.
 
"By collaborating with Synopsys and UMC we were able to take advantage of a total solution including silicon, logic library and embedded memory IP, electronic design automation tools and experienced design consultants, which helped us bring our chip to market in record time," said Jessy Chen, VP and Spokesman for Realtek.

UMC is a leading foundry provider of 40-nm technology, and has been delivering products on this process since 2008. Approximately 20% of UMC's revenue is from 40-nm products, and it is among the top foundries worldwide for total 40-nm production capacity.

"The success of this cooperation with valued partners Realtek and Synopsys embodies UMC's 'United for Excellence' philosophy. Through this approach, UMC remains committed to uniting with our ecosystem partners for close, integrated working relationships to attain heightened competitiveness and realize shared goals, further substantiated with the collaborative success of this 40-nm UHD smart TV SoC," said Steve Wang, VP of IP development and design support for UMC.

The DesignWare embedded SRAM compilers and logic libraries on UMC's 40LP process are available now at no cost to qualified licensees as part of Synopsys' Foundry-Sponsored IP programme.